Emma Lazarus: Voice of Liberty, Voice of Conscience

Emma Lazarus is known for the iconic words of her famous 1883 poem, “The New Colossus,” engraved on a plaque for the Statue of Liberty: “Give me your tired, your poor/Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.”

The traveling exhibit, curated by Princeton University scholar Esther Schor, explores the life and legacy of Lazarus — a critic, advocate for the poor, early feminist, and champion of immigrants and refugees, as well as a poet. The exhibit was developed by Nextbook, Inc. and the American Library Association Public Programs Office.